FT: Welling 2 Imps 1

13 October 2015

Match report...

Liam Hearn for the injured Craig Stanley for this Tuesday night game at Welling United was the only change to the City starting line-up as the Imps went in search of a fourth successive Vanarama National League victory.

The hosts kicked off and it was a fast and furious start with the opening stages concentrated in the Welling half as the Imps looked for an early advantage. Home stopper Tom King, however, was untroubled between the sticks.

The first effort at goal came in the eighth minute with Reece Harris testing Paul Farman from 25 yards whilst a minute later a good block from Bradley Wood saw him deny Xavier Vidal. A City break then ended with Muldoon advancing down the right only to run out of pitch.

Terry Hawkridge had a 13th minute effort blocked before his follow-up cross was flicked wide by Matt Rhead at full stretch. A couple of minutes later Wood intercepted a Michael Chambers clearance but his ball through to Hearn was cleared for a throw when perhaps a ball wide to Hawkridge was the better option.

In the 19th minute Hearn forced the first corner of game and when Hawkridge whipped the ball in Luke Waterfall saw his header blocked by keeper King before the ball bounced around and Callum Howe looped an effort over.

A minute later Chris Bush whipped in a great cross which Rhead connected with only to head wide and in the 25th minute a succession of City corners saw them put the hosts under a spell of sustained pressure.

Shortly before the half-hour mark Lee Beevers curled in a great cross but Rhead saw his downward header bounce a foot wide; the next half-chance saw Rhead's looping header from a Bush free-kick claimed under his bar by King.

Wood was harshly cautioned in the 34th minute for leaning into his man on the half-way line before Welling's Vidal was booked for a foul on Power. A couple of minutes later a hooked effort from Hearn was well saved by King.

Four minutes before the break some hesitant defending from Chambers following a long punt forward by Farman almost let in Hearn whilst at the other end a Welling free-kick was headed behind for a corner by Power.

Although City initially dealt with the flag-kick, the hosts kept the ball in the attacking third and after the ball was whipped in from the right, Sam Corne was denied by Farman only for the ball to hit the Welling man and go past the Imps stopper for the opening goal as the game approached the 43rd minute.

HT: WELLING 1 IMPS 0

The teams emerged unchanged for the start of the second half and City were quickly out of the traps, putting the hosts on the back foot straight from the restart.

That instant pressure paid dividends less than three minutes in as, after Beevers gained possession, he fed Muldoon on the right who in turn squared for Power to drive goalwards; the skipper's effort duly being flicked home by LIAM HEARN for the leveller.

A minute after the restart a Rhead shot crashed against the arm of a covering defender but penalty appeals fell on deaf ears whilst in the 52nd minute an effort on the turn from Muldoon flew just wide as City went for the jugular again.

As the hour mark approached, Bush fired wide after a Farman free-kick fell into his path and a rasping Hearn drive was kept out well by King before the ball crashed against Muldoon and away from goal.

Hearn prodded a Bush cross wide and a Muldoon cross was cleared for a corner as the Imps continued to dominate before Hawkridge created space for himself only to drag a low effort a foot wide of the target.

With a quarter-hour on the clock Hearn was denied a sight of goal by Kevin Lokko who got in a last-ditch tackle after the City striker latched on to a quick ball forward from Hawkridge.

In the 79th minute a change for Welling saw Afolabi Obafemi replace Sahr Kabba up front and a minute later Rhead had a shot deflect behind for a corner which was hacked clear by Welling.

City were reduced to 10 men in the 82nd minute when Wood was penalised for a trip on Harry Lee. With the locals baying for red they was rewarded by referee Adam Bromley.

Alex Simmons quickly replaced Liam Hearn but the action was at the other end shortly afterwards and when Power played a misplaced pass to Beevers, it gave substitute Obafemi the chance to advance and he duly made the most of the chance, slotting neatly past the advancing Farman to edge his side in front again.

City looked for a response with good work from he overlapping Bush seeing him win a corner but again the final ball failed to materialise. Three additional minutes was then indicated by the Fourth Official and these passed without further incident.